A dolphin with crazy eyes that is prone to psychotic behavior:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_Navy_030317-N-5319A-014_Spe t z_a_Bottle_Nose_Dolphin_belonging_to_Commander_Task_Unit_%28CTU-55.4.3 %29_is_beached_up_on_a_transfer_mat_before_going_out_on_a_training_mis sion.jpg

The design for these things is truly remarkable. There's no on-board engine or power inside the torp.

Basically you spin a flywheel inside the torp really really really fast through a system of shipboard winches. Then you just drop the thing in the water and the flywheel releases that stored up spinning energy into the propeller assembly, causing it to push itself toward the enemy.

I assume the point tip goes to a detonator cap which blows the whole thing up afterwards.

Funny how the Navy likes the dolphins to do their bidding, and yet proposes and promotes sonar exercises that will kill or deafen the non-captive ones in mass numbers. The most recent proposal was rejected by California back in March, but it doesn't guarantee that the project will not be proposed again in the future. From what I've read in news articles, the Navy is currently attempting to override the most recent rejection, claiming blah blah danger North Korea. Sign petitions, folks.

my alt's alt's alt:Funny how the Navy likes the dolphins to do their bidding, and yet proposes and promotes sonar exercises that will kill or deafen the non-captive ones in mass numbers. The most recent proposal was rejected by California back in March, but it doesn't guarantee that the project will not be proposed again in the future. From what I've read in news articles, the Navy is currently attempting to override the most recent rejection, claiming blah blah danger North Korea. Sign petitions, folks.

So their recruitment drive is "Join the Navy or we explode your ears with vibrations"?

duenor:The design for these things is truly remarkable. There's no on-board engine or power inside the torp.

Basically you spin a flywheel inside the torp really really really fast through a system of shipboard winches. Then you just drop the thing in the water and the flywheel releases that stored up spinning energy into the propeller assembly, causing it to push itself toward the enemy.

I assume the point tip goes to a detonator cap which blows the whole thing up afterwards.

It's also made of bronze all over.

These things must have been incredibly expensive to make.

Meant to be launched from above the water or submerged torpedo tubes, the Howell torpedo was made of brass, 11 feet long, driven by a 132-pound flywheel spun to 10,000 rpm before launch. It had a range of 400 yards and a speed of 25 knots.

Brass is not bronze. You could be right and the article would be wrong.